Theme: Rossini opera - I'll not link the overture; it's already playing in my head.
20A. *Ornamental flower with clustered blooms : SWEET WILLIAM
36A. *Blab about one's romantic life : KISS AND TELL
43A. *Luxury car until the 1930s : PIERCE-ARROW
57A. *Former PBS science show with a fruit in its title logo : NEWTON'S APPLE
65A. Body support for the end of 57-Across, in a Swiss folk tale suggested by the ends of the answers to starred clues : HEAD (Placed directly under APPLE)
Argyle here. Now this is more like it. I would not expect anything less from John.
Across:
1. Cavern effect : ECHO
5. Cornfield call : [CAW!]
8. "Frozen" studio : DISNEY
14. Amorphous mass : BLOB
15. "Say again?" : "HUH?"
16. Mercedes-Benz sedan line : E CLASS
17. Disapproving cries from bleacher "birds" : BOOs. The Boo Birds
18. Prefix with meter : ODO
19. "I do" setting : CHAPEL. And 33. "I do" : "YES"
23. Wall St. index : NYSE
24. Steeped brew : TEA
25. Badlands bovine : BISON
29. "Green Eggs and Ham" guy : SAM
31. Marshmallow-filled snack : MOON PIE
39. Brainchild : IDEA
41. "Dancing With the Stars" move : TWIRL
42. Law school newbie : ONE L. First year law student.
46. Like deadpan humor : DRY
47. Bringing up the rear : ENDMOST
48. Tail movement : WAG and 54A. Comment from Fido : [WOOF!]
50. "Speak up!" : "SAY IT!". "Good dog!"
51. Had a meal : ATE
61. African desert : SAHARA
64. Beat it : RAN. Made a hasty retreat.
66. Online form entry : USER ID
67. __-fi : SCI
68. Ireland, in poetry : ERIN
69. Sonnet features : RHYMES
70. 1930s N.L. home run king Mel : OTT. A Giant in crossword clues.
71. __ avis : RARA
Down:
1. Flows back : EBBS
2. Kids' party performer : CLOWN
3. Twaddle : HOOEY. Love it.
4. Think constantly about something : OBSESS
5. Food on the trail : CHOW. First thought, GORP.
6. Review of books? : AUDIT
7. Unbroken : WHOLE
8. Tenth: Pref. : DECI. Deca - comprised of ten.
9. Crane who fled the Headless Horseman : ICHABOD
10. Hit very hard : SLAM INTO
11. Snooze : NAP
12. Peoria-to-Cincinnati dir. : ESE
13. French designer's initials : YSL. (Yves Saint Laurent)
21. Shipbuilding wood : TEAK
22. Hedy of Hollywood : LAMARR
26. Use up cash : SPEND
27. Persian Gulf ship : OILER
28. Nice __: prude : NELLY. ...or not so nice.
30. Teeny parasites : MITES
32. At the minimum setting : ON LOW
33. "Goodness me!" : YIPES
34. Twin Cities suburb : EDINA
35. Like a run-down motel : SEEDY
37. Go after, as a mosquito : SWAT AT
38. Elton John's title : SIR
40. Linked while walking, as friends : ARM IN ARM
44. Circle of friends : COTERIE
45. H2O, to a toddler : "WAWA"
49. Burrowing rodent : GOPHER
52. Sculpted figure : TORSO
53. Put into law : ENACT
55. "The Marriage of Figaro," e.g. : OPERA
56. Knack : FLAIR
58. Rolls of money : WADS
59. Agitated state : SNIT
60. Funny Dame : EDNA. "Funny" funny dame.
61. Big __, California : SUR
62. Hearth remains : ASH
63. "Yo!" : "HEY!". "Wake up, the party's over!"
Argyle
Note from C.C.:
Happy
Birthday to our foodie Avg Joe! I could not locate his signature Ham and Split Pea Soup recipe on the blog last Christmas and winged it. The soup turned out to be very tasty but thick. Very filling.
